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Agriculture Career of the Month:
Accountant

For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs. Today, 30,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. With more than 265 processing plants, 400 crop procurement facilities, and the world’s premier crop transportation network, ADM helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 160 countries. For more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.

This month, we take a look at the work and career path of a member of the ADM Accounting team.

What's the Job Description?
All new hires begin in entry-level positions with the Accounting Staff Development Program. This development program generally lasts from two to four years, and accountants will rotate through a variety of entry-level and more experienced accounting positions, each typically running for six to 12 months with frequent performance reviews. ADM believes that this depth of experience is a key attribute in staff development. Accounting staff are encouraged to be lifelong learners and to explore a broad array of experiences; ADM offers a number of accounting-specific classes (in systems and software, accounting practices and more) and prefers to promote from within.

We spoke with one accountant who has worked with ADM for 23 years. She tells us: "Being an accountant is more than closing the books and generating [profit and loss] statements. Teaching your staff, directing traffic to get projects completed [quickly] and accurately, and creating more efficient ways of doing the current job are all a part of it. It is up to the individual to get everything possible out of a job. Work hard, get involved, ask questions, and have a good attitude!"

How Much Can I Make?
ADM pays competitively based upon industry standards, the responsibilities of the job, as well as the candidates’ experience.

What's the Career Path Like?
After initially participating in the Accounting Staff Development Program, accountants can move into a variety of accounting positions with ADM, covering everything from corporate accounting to corn-processing accounting. The accountant we spoke with told us that this variety is one of the things she likes most about the job -- along with her colleagues.

"I did a 6-month trainee rotation in Audit but the rest of my career has been in Operations. I have experienced many different types of operational processes, visited several locations, and met many people. The career path for an accountant can have many forks -- you can stick to the normal cost, corporate, property [or] tax functions, or [become a] business partner with the sales and plant groups. Opportunities are many.

"What I have enjoyed the most about being an accountant at ADM is two-fold. First it is the people. I have been fortunate to have great teachers and mentors in my career, to work in departments centered around a team approach, and to have business partners willing to give you their time to ask questions. Second is that even after 23 years of working in accounting, I am continually challenged by the projects given to me or by my own doing. There is always something you can learn or improve upon."

What Are the Job Requirements?
New accountants at ADM should have a bachelor's degree in accounting, a basic knowledge of Microsoft Office software, and a collegiate 3.0 GPA or better in: Principles of Accounting I and II; Intermediate Accounting I and II; Advanced Accounting; Cost Accounting; Auditing; Tax and Business Law.

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